Indiana Counties Gain Expanded Access to Broadband Internet

The Indiana Fiber Network (IFN) recently completed a project installing 50 miles of fiber line in Howard and Tipton counties, expanding high-speed service to roughly 1,200 buildings.

by Carson Gerber, Kokomo Tribune
/
June 25, 2018

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(TNS) — Around 1,200 buildings in Indiana's Howard and Tipton counties now have the chance to access lightning-fast broadband Internet after an Indiana service provider installed 50 miles of fiber line in the area.

Indiana Fiber Network (IFN) recently completed the project installing the line at three main areas, including Lincoln Business Park, located a half mile east of U.S. 31, the former GM Delco Plant, 2276 E. Lincoln Road, and the intersection of Ind. 28 and U.S. 31 in Tipton near the Fiat Chrysler plant.

Company spokesperson Haley Williams said sites were chosen for the fiber-optic expansion project, which provides some of the fastest Internet speeds available, because of their close proximity to the company’s existing network. She said local economic-development groups also gave input on what areas would best be served by the new lines.

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IFN CEO Jim Turner the company has 4,500 route miles of fiber and counting, and is “proud to connect Hoosiers as they grow their businesses.”

“We look forward to seeing the new and existing tenants in Howard and Tipton Counties that will utilize broadband to further develop the state economy,” he said in a release.

Charlie Sparks, president and CEO of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, said the new fiber enhances the region’s economic potential by providing broadband Internet to local businesses.

“This not only strengthens our service to existing businesses, it also positions us better to attract new business opportunities,” he said. “We’re excited to be able to provide this service to our current and future employers with the help of IFN.”

The new fiber-ready sites in Kokomo and Tipton come after the company announced a multi-year, multi-million-dollar network upgrade across the state. IFN officials say the upgrades will increase capacity, improve stability and add efficiency to internet services.

The hardware upgrades are set to take place in phases over the next two years. Three of the four 2018 phases are now complete, with the remaining 2018 phase to be completed in June. Additional phases of the project will begin in the first quarter of 2019.

IFN formed in 2002 and is comprised of 20 local exchange telephone companies throughout the state. They offer data center, internet backbone and data transport services.

Inventrek Technology Park last year was also certified by AT&T as fiber-ready – a designation local officials said would help attract new businesses to the building after sustaining heavy damage from the August 2016 tornado.

The facility was the first to receive the designation in Howard County, and at the time was one of only 20 locations in the state to be certified by AT&T.

With many educational organizations shifting their entire schedules to distance learning tools or full virtual environments indefinitely, never has the statement “we are all in this together” been more poignant.